Privacy and dignity

Every patient has the right to receive high quality care that is safe, effective and respects their privacy and dignity.

We are committed to delivering care with privacy and dignity in the most appropriate accommodation and confirm that we are compliant with the Government’s requirements to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation, except when it is in the patient’s best overall interest, or reflects their personal choice.

This means that men and women do not have to sleep in the same room, share mixed bathing and WC facilities or pass directly through opposite-sex areas to reach their own facilities.

We will apply a rigour of investigation and respond to any occurrences where this is breached.

There will however be times when it may be necessary to treat patients in a mixed sex area for emergency medical reasons which cannot be delivered in a same sex accommodation area. Patients will be moved into single sex accommodation as soon as it is medically safe to do so.

The following statement sets out our declaration of compliance with the Eliminating Mixed Sex Accommodation standards:

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is pleased to confirm that the Trust is compliant with the Government’s requirement to eliminate mixed-sex accommodation. The Trust has the necessary facilities, resources and culture to ensure that patients who are admitted to in-patient facilities will be in single rooms that have en-suite facilities or will be close to designated same sex bathrooms and toilets.

The Trust will continue with its ongoing assessments across all our services to ensure that we provide private and dignified care to all those who use our services.